Tears of joy: The moment an Afghan teen learned of Oscar nomination

Fawad Mohammadi, the 14-year-old star of a short Afghan film, has been propelled into the Oscar spotlight. The script parallels his own life. NBC's Thanh Truong reports.

By Kiko Itasaka, Producer, NBC News

KABUL, Afghanistan -- It is a long way from the grimy, poverty-stricken streets of Afghanistan to the red carpets of Hollywood -- but 14-year-old Fawad Mohammadi is on his way.

The teenager, who sells chewing gum and maps from the curbside in Kabul, was an actor in "Buzkashi Boys," a film nominated Thursday for an Oscar.

In a city normally associated with misery, there were tears of joy as Mohammadi learned of the nomination at a small Internet cafe.

"I'm so happy!" he exclaimed.

American director Sam Fench called Mohammadi to share congratulations -- and promised to take him to Los Angeles, where the low-budget film is shortlisted in the best live action short film category.

A 14-year-old Afghan street seller was overcome with emotion when he learned the film Buzkashi Boys, in which he acted, was nominated for an Oscar. Emma Murphy of ITV News reports.

"I want to see a lot of things there -- Hollywood, and I want to see some actors."

The glamour of Hollywood is a world away from Mohammadi's daily existence in Kabul, where he sells gum and tourist maps for $3 to $5 on the capital's dangerous roads in order to support his single mother who is raising six sons and one daughter in abject poverty.